ten ways outsourcing medical professional liability insurance … · 2015-06-01 · ten ways...

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Ten Ways Outsourcing Medical Professional Liability Insurance Can Pay Off for Hospitals -1- By Susan Peskura Associate Vice President, Marketing Physicians Insurance A Mutual Company As more physicians become hos- pital employees, hospitals must face the challenges of integrating and managing physician practices. Many hospitals, for example, now outsource the risk exposures for medical professional liability to a specialty insurance company. A hospital’s purchase of professional liability insurance for its employed physicians offers several key ad- vantages. 1. More Efficient Hospital Management. Hospitals ini- tially hired primary care physi- cians as employees, but as the hospital-employed physician mix moves from primary care to more specialists, some hos- pitals may no longer have the expertise to provide risk man- agement and claims services for these specialists. When an insurance company manages a hospital’s claims and risk man- agement, hospital administra- tors can focus on what they do best: caring for patients. And a professionally managed li- ability insurance company pro- vides specialized claims and risk management services for all unique exposures that em- ployed physicians may pres- ent. 2. Better Control of Claims and Settlements. Professional li- ability insurance companies have decades of experience handling claims and control- ling costs in every medical specialty. Keeping claim costs low is essential to a success- ful business, and established professional liability insurance companies have been helping physician practices and clinics stay successful for years. Pro- fessional liability insurers with experience in providing cover- age to hospital-employed phy- sicians can offer claims han- dling that minimizes conflicts with the hospital’s self-insured exposures while maintaining protection for physicians. 3. Lowered Risk. Physician-spe- cific and specialty-specific re- ports and loss analyses, along with risk management exper- tise, can help hospital adminis- trators identify claim trends of specific physicians and within specialties. This information can help hospitals find more ways to improve procedures and systems, thus lowering risk within the organization. 4. Detailed Tracking and Re- porting. With detailed track- ing reports on claims losses, defense costs, legal expenses, and reporting to data banks, Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commis- sion, and CMS, hospital ad- ministrators can report data accurately and measure results and expenses separately from hospital-wide trends. The li- ability for these claims rests with the insurer, not the hospi- tal, and costs can be allocated to the correct profit center. 5. Specialized, Timely Risk Management Services. Ex- perts can advise physicians

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Page 1: Ten Ways Outsourcing Medical Professional Liability Insurance … · 2015-06-01 · Ten Ways Outsourcing Medical Professional Liability Insurance Can Pay Off for Hospitals-1-By Susan

Ten Ways Outsourcing Medical Professional Liability Insurance Can Pay Off for Hospitals

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By Susan PeskuraAssociate Vice President, MarketingPhysicians Insurance A Mutual Company

As more physicians become hos-pital employees, hospitals must face the challenges of integrating and managing physician practices. Many hospitals, for example, now outsource the risk exposures for medical professional liability to a specialty insurance company. A hospital’s purchase of professional liability insurance for its employed physicians offers several key ad-vantages.1. More Efficient Hospital

Management. Hospitals ini-tially hired primary care physi-

cians as employees, but as the hospital-employed physician mix moves from primary care to more specialists, some hos-pitals may no longer have the expertise to provide risk man-agement and claims services for these specialists. When an insurance company manages a hospital’s claims and risk man-agement, hospital administra-tors can focus on what they do best: caring for patients. And a professionally managed li-ability insurance company pro-vides specialized claims and risk management services for all unique exposures that em-ployed physicians may pres-ent.

2. Better Control of Claims and Settlements. Professional li-ability insurance companies have decades of experience handling claims and control-ling costs in every medical specialty. Keeping claim costs low is essential to a success-ful business, and established professional liability insurance companies have been helping physician practices and clinics stay successful for years. Pro-fessional liability insurers with experience in providing cover-age to hospital-employed phy-

sicians can offer claims han-dling that minimizes conflicts with the hospital’s self-insured exposures while maintaining protection for physicians.

3. Lowered Risk. Physician-spe-cific and specialty-specific re-ports and loss analyses, along with risk management exper-tise, can help hospital adminis-trators identify claim trends of specific physicians and within specialties. This information can help hospitals find more ways to improve procedures and systems, thus lowering risk within the organization.

4. Detailed Tracking and Re-porting. With detailed track-ing reports on claims losses, defense costs, legal expenses, and reporting to data banks, Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commis-sion, and CMS, hospital ad-ministrators can report data accurately and measure results and expenses separately from hospital-wide trends. The li-ability for these claims rests with the insurer, not the hospi-tal, and costs can be allocated to the correct profit center.

5. Specialized, Timely Risk Management Services. Ex-perts can advise physicians

Page 2: Ten Ways Outsourcing Medical Professional Liability Insurance … · 2015-06-01 · Ten Ways Outsourcing Medical Professional Liability Insurance Can Pay Off for Hospitals-1-By Susan

www.phyins.com

Seattle, WA (206) 343-7300 or 1-800-962-1399 . Spokane, WA (509) 456-5868 or 1-800-962-1398 Endorsed by the Washington State Medical Association

Every physician needs a good foundation.®

Michael Tronolone, MD, MMM, Medical DirectorThe Polyclinic

Seattle, Washington

“Whether we’re on the phone about a

grave risk management issue or meeting in person

on a routine business matter, the Physicians Insurance

staff treats every interaction with equal importance.

A consultant is always available when we need one.

I’m impressed with the company’s on-site

risk management programs.”

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Page 3: Ten Ways Outsourcing Medical Professional Liability Insurance … · 2015-06-01 · Ten Ways Outsourcing Medical Professional Liability Insurance Can Pay Off for Hospitals-1-By Susan

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and staff on urgent matters and claim trends by phone, by e-mail, and in person, offer-ing solutions on topics such as medical records, treatment of minors, HIPAA compliance, team communications, dealing with a difficult patient, adverse outcomes, and much more.

6. Specialized Knowledge of Medical Professional Liabil-ity. Navigating medical neg-ligence claims can be a long, complex process. Experienced claims experts can handle the most difficult medical mal-practice claims with skill and professionalism. They can also provide access to privileged communications with a psy-chiatrist who specializes in helping physicians understand and cope with the stresses of claims and lawsuits.

7. Specialized Knowledge of Legal Venues and Attorneys. In the event of a lawsuit, a

defendant physician and the hospital can benefit from an insurance company’s exper-tise and longevity in the mar-ketplace. A local, experienced company will maintain strong relationships with top plaintiff and defense attorneys and pos-sess in-depth knowledge of the strategies, expert witnesses, ar-bitrators and mediators, courts, and other participants in the medical professional liability field.

8. Outside Review of Prospec-tive Employees. The insurance underwriting process offers a different look at a physician’s risk exposures and can bring to light issues not addressed in the hospital’s credential verifi-cation process.

9. Organizational Teamwork Opportunities. Using a pro-fessional liability insurance company creates additional opportunities for combined

risk management efforts fo-cusing on the entire hospital health care team.

10. Better Allocation of Finan-cial Resources. A hospital that purchases professional liabil-ity insurance for its employed physicians does not need to tie up reserve capital for potential claims.

Hospital administrators should consider how outsourcing cover-age of employed physicians aligns with patient safety initiatives, han-dling efficiencies, and budgets.The Physicians Insurance market-ing staff can answer any questions and discuss how these advantages apply to your institution. Please call 1-800-962-1399 (Western Washington & Oregon) or 1-800-962-1398 (Eastern Washington & Idaho), and ask to speak to the Mar-keting Department, or e-mail me at [email protected] or [email protected] for assistance.

Reprinted with permission from the Washington Healthcare News. To learn more about the Washington Healthcare News visit wahcnews.com.